Services for Arthur Muril Pipkin, 93, of Ada and formerly of Francis are at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Criswell Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Chad Kaminski will officiate. Burial will follow at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Francis. The Chickasaw Honor Guard will conduct military honors at the cemetery.
Mr. Pipkin died Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014. at an Oklahoma City hospital. He was born March 24, 1920, in Electra, Texas, to Thomas Muril and Dora May Hutchings Pipkin.
He married Gereldeen Smith on Oct. 19, 1940, in Quartzside, Ariz. She preceded him in death in November 1991.
Mr. Pipkin worked for the civil service at Norton Air Force Base, San Bernardino, Calif., until 1959. He relocated to Oklahoma, where he worked and retired in 1971 from the U.S. Corps of Engineers. He later retired from District 1, Pontotoc County, in 1984.
Mr. Pipkin was a member of the First Baptist Church in Francis and had served as the mayor of Francis. He was a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of the Shriners. Mr. Pipkin was a veteran of World War II, having fought in the Battle of the Bulge in the European Theatre. He was wounded and was awarded the Purple Heart Medal and three Bronze Stars for Valor.
Survivors include two sons, Donnie Ray Pipkin and wife, Wilda, of Allen, and Michael Louis Pipkin and wife, Jaylene, of Waco, Texas; a daughter-in-law, Shin Pipkin of Francis; his grandchildren, Donna Huntone and husband, Allen, Moore, Donnieta Ray and husband, Kurt, Ada, Jeanette McBroom and husband, Matt, Moore, Christie Woodman , Blanchard, Jim Pipkin and wife, Jolette, Johnson Creek, Wis., Glen Pipkin and wife, Tiffany, Blanchard, Jarra Exum and husband, Jay, Waco, Texas, and Stephanie Gerath and husband Kurtis, Waco, Texas; his great-grandchildren, Josh Wilson and wife, Bobbie, and children Jayden, Landen, Aspen and Rolen of Russellville, Ark., Robert Wilson and wife, Kasey, and children Rook and Kenzleigh of Purcell, Anthony Wilson of Derby, Kan., Ryan Wilson and wife, Katie, and child, Ayden, of Wichita, Kan., Taylor McBroom of Moore, Jordyn and Madyson Pipkin of Johnson Creek, Wis., Elayna Pipkin of Blanchard, Courtney Ray and Haley Ray, both of Ada, Hannah Woodman and Caleb Woodman , both of Blanchard, Addison and Kenna Gerath of Waco, Texas, and James Bo Exum of Waco, Texas; a niece, Charlene Mooney of Arizona; and a nephew, Jerry and wife, Kim Pipkin, of Tahoe City, Calif.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Gereldeen; son, Willard James Pipkin, in 2010; an infant daughter; two infant sons; three brothers, Otis Pipkin, James Pipkin and Carl F. Pipkin; and seven sisters, an infant sister, Maggie Barker, Opal Whitehead, Ruth Mooney, Mabel Pipkin, Sarah Pipkin and Dorothy Pipkin.
Bearers will be his grandsons. Honorary bearers will be his great-grandsons.
Criswell Funeral Home, Ada
